MEPs will discuss the state of media freedom throughout the European Union, about seven years after the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, closest Wednesday in Strasbourg. The debate was initiated by Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Let’s Renewal Europe/PS) to evaluate how the situation in the field of media freedom and the protection of journalists developed during their work. According to Monika Beňová (not included/Smer-SD), this will be a general debate and the European Commission (EC) will not provide an opinion specifically on the situation in Slovakia, informs TASR.
“The inclusion of this point in the program was asked by Renew, a fraction where there is progressive Slovakia. At their proposal. It is a general debate, and this is its name, the name of Mr. Kuciak and his girlfriends put there on the proposal of Renew (PS). It is not an opinion of the EC on the “situation” in any context specifically in Slovakia. Both EC and debate will be without resolution, “said MEP Beňová.
MEP Branislav Ondruš (not included/voice-SD) adds that Given that this point at all costs was promoted by the Progressive Slovakia Party through the Renewal Fraction, “It is clear that the only aim of this debate is the defamation of Slovakia as a non -democratic state where state citizens must be afraid of what they will say”.
According to Cifra’s Ostrihoňová, the aim of the discussion is to evaluate the situation and a possible shift in the field of media freedom and the protection of journalists in their work. “I initiated this debate as a memory of seven years after the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, but also Maltese journalist Daphne Caruan Galizi,” added. In her words, it is important to honor their memory, and at the same time evaluate, “where we have moved in Europe in the field of media freedom and protection of journalists in their work”.
Miriam Lexmann (European People’s Party/KDH) cannot predict which specific states or situations will be addressed by the Commission and the subsequent debate. “Freedom and media and journalists are important pillars of democracy and therefore we will continue to deal with the European Parliament how to contribute to their protection as effectively as possible,” added.
The European Parliament is about to draw attention to the calls related to the recently adopted European legislation – Freedom of Media (EMFA), Directive against strategic action for restriction of public participation (SLAPP) and Digital Services Regulation (DSA).
According to the official EP website, MEPs are also “They are also likely to focus on the recent threat to the European Union values in general and on the development in Slovakia, especially after expressing serious concerns about the state of the rule of law in the country in January 2024” in January 2024.. The debate on this topic is scheduled for Wednesday 12 February in the afternoon.
